Brief Dip in the Water on the 8th

     The water was calm, flat, and warm (60-62) on the 8th of May.  I wanted to try out the rig recommended by the physical therapist so I don't turn my neck.  I tried swim goggles this time with a snorkel stuck up the side of the strap. It doesn't work well enough  to do it. I only stayed in for 7 minutes - no energy.  Too bad; it was beautiful.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Pier Swim Oceanside Choppy. Happy Birthday Mom

   

 I got myself into the water again today, and it was earlier--about 10 AM.  The water was a choppy, wishy-washy mess.  The chop was 1-2 foot all around the Pier.  There were 2 surfers on the north side (the right side) and about 6 on the south side. I had trouble turning my neck.  I think I'll stop the physical therapy for that.  I don't see how it's supposed to work if there's a piece of metal in there to prevent turning.
The water was warm.  Surfline had it at 60-62 but I walked right in like a native with my tight shorts.  It's really not a pretty sight; that picture will never make it on the blog.
I'm glad I got out there.  I was swimming against a mild current and the swim was 34 minutes.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

One month with no salt water; I think it's a record for me.

A couple of geese in our pool for Spring mating, I guess.

 
 Brigid said I look homeless in this photo. It is my after-swim cold and miserable face.

 The tide is staying soooo low for weeks.

 Hardly anybody in the water today--very sloppy and somewhat rough.

 S

I have missed so much water time. Two weeks ago my physical therapist told me to swim with a snorkel and a mask so that I would not have to turn my head to breathe.  I bought a new snorkel and busted out my thirty-year-old military dive mask.  The water was coming in hard as I entered to try out this new rig.  I hung with it for ten minutes and gave up.  I may try something a bit different.  The problem today was that my mask stayed foggy and wet as I swam out into the continuous waves.
I may have given up too soon.  My swim was in 60-62 degree water today; one could just walk right in.  It was hard swimming out with a two-foot chop and a strong northward current with the chop slapping me on the left side of my head.
About a half-hour to get out past the pier.  Then I finished at 48 minutes.  It's so nice to have that relief from back pain while in the water, and such a bummer when I get back on the sand and have difficulty bending over to pick up a seashell.
The neck hurts IN the water as I rotate my head to breathe.  Crazy stuff.
Refreshing, invigorating, pleasant, a little scary, and satisfaction with a job well done.  Lots of emotions during my ocean swims.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Pain Block Shots

I got more lumbar medial branch block injections this past Monday and more blocks the Monday before.  Now more physical therapy...I'm a dang pin cushion.  No swimming on the horizon for me.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Check Out This Saturday Spray of Filth at the Pier

Just plain nasty black water piped from the mouth of the harbor and sprayed within 50 feet or so of the Pier. Gross. And a bunch of surfers and swimmers were in the water, mostly south of the pier, but the water was moving to the south.  Yuck!

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."  But it's ok to stay out under these conditions.